DePaul University students cheer during the Blue Demon Welcome event Sept. 6, 2022. This month, DePaul kicks off yearlong celebrations for the university's 125th anniversary. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)CHICAGO — This year marks an important milestone in DePaul University’s history and an opportunity to think about the future – its 125th anniversary. Starting this month, DePaul commemorates more than a century of engaging, diverse and global learning, service to the community, outstanding athletes, groundbreaking leaders and a strong commitment to the university’s Catholic, Vincentian mission.
The university has launched an anniversary website to invite the DePaul community and friends to join the yearlong celebration. Online at
https://125.depaul.edu, the website features 125 Faces of DePaul, upcoming events and interactive, archival photos of DePaul’s Loop and Lincoln Park Campuses.
“This milestone is a chance for everyone – alumni, faculty, staff, students, and our community members – to celebrate their connections to DePaul,” said President Robert L. Manuel. “As we celebrate the impact we have had on generations of students, we also look ahead to designing our future. I’m looking forward to honoring DePaul’s 125 years with our community members at events throughout the next year.”
125 Faces of DePaul
In 2021, DePaul challenged the entire community to nominate people who made a significant impact on the university, their field of study or industry. In less than a month, DePaul received nearly 400 nominations. In the months that followed, the planning committee considered each submission and selected 125 nominations to celebrate.
(DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)Available online, the
125 Faces of DePaul demonstrate the university’s outstanding history, showcasing a diverse group of leaders, individuals challenging societal norms, groundbreaking STEM experts, those who exhibit Vincentian personalism, artists, lifelong learners and record-breaking athletes. With DePaul’s longstanding commitment to answering the question “What must be done?” many more people contributed to the university’s longevity and success. The 125 Faces of DePaul is a sampling of what makes DePaul what it is today.
The list of 125 Faces of DePaul includes many names familiar throughout Chicago and the world. WNBA all-star Allie Quigley, CEO and philanthropist Bertram Scott and actor Gillian Anderson are among those featured. Over the next three months, DePaul will share information, photos, quotes and university memories about the faces in groups. Visitors to the website can get to know the community builders, athletes, Blue Demons, and faculty and staff in the first group now, with more stories rolling out this fall.
Reflecting on the past and planning for the future
The 125th anniversary website also highlights DePaul’s leadership and history in Chicago. The site includes information about past presidents and honors the role leadership groups play in shaping DePaul’s future.
“Throughout our 125-year history, DePaul has risen to meet the demands and opportunities of the moment, while always staying true to our mission,” Manuel said. “As we look ahead, DePaul has the opportunity to broaden our historical mission of access to create sustained and consequential relationships to education for the members of our community.”
Reflecting on DePaul’s history and future includes a new way to look back at the university’s deep roots in Chicago. Interactive
Then & Now photos from the university’s Special Collections and Archives show the university’s growth alongside Chicago’s changes over the years. Images from the Lincoln Park Campus show changes around St. Vincent de Paul Church, the Fullerton ‘L’ Station and more. Downtown on the Loop Campus, photos reveal how Jackson Blvd. and the Lewis Center have changed over the years.
The university will celebrate the anniversary milestone throughout the year with 125-themed events. Anniversary elements will also be incorporated into traditional events such as Alumni and Family Weekend, Oct. 13 to 16, and Blue Demon Week in winter of 2023. The 125th anniversary website will be regularly updated as more information becomes available at
https://125.depaul.edu/.
About DePaul University
Celebrating 125 years of engaging, diverse and global learning, DePaul University provides exceptional academics and real-world experiences to prepare students for a changing world. With nearly 22,000 students across more than 300 academic programs, DePaul has two campus locations in Chicago. Students richly benefit from the city’s many opportunities. In turn, DePaul is one of the forces that shapes Chicago’s future. The university was founded in 1898 by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), a Roman Catholic religious community dedicated to following the ideals of St. Vincent de Paul. DePaul is among the nation’s top universities for diversity because of its long tradition of providing a high-quality education to students from a broad range of backgrounds. Today, DePaul is the largest private, nonprofit university in the Midwest and the largest Catholic university in the nation. As it begins its next 125 years, DePaul remains committed to service and leadership as a faith-based institution. Visit
https://www.depaul.edu/ to learn more.
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Media Contact:
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